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SACAJAWEA i 

THE INDIAN PRINCESS E 

^ The Indian Girl Who Piloted The Lewis ^ 

•^ ^^ 

^ and Clark Expedition Across The ^ 

^ Rocky Mountains. ^ 

^i' ^^ 

•^ •««• 

-^ 4«» 

^ A Play In Three Acts j^ 

"fs'T ^SS' 

•^ BY 4^ 

:t ANNA WOLFROM H 

^ Author of "Albion and Rosamond" and "The Living ^ 

:^ Voice," "Human Wisps," etc. ^ 

♦^ ^^ 

•^ 4«» 

^» 4^ 

^>- ^^ 

^J- ^^ 

^i" >««• 

;^ Copyright, 1918 By ^ 

'^ Anna Wolfrom, Kansas City, Mo. ^g* 

^^ ^S' 

'^ <«• 

'^ •««» 

^» ¥k' 

«^ «^ 

•S^ •««• 

«^ ««► 

^^ ««• 

-^^ 4g» 

^^ KANSAS CITY. MISSOURI ^^ 

^ BURTON PUBLISHING COMPANY ^ 

•^ Publishers and Booksellers 4^ 

-^ •««• 

♦^ "««► 

♦^ -i^' 

•^ <^ 



CHARACTERS 

Meriweather Lewis] j^^^^^^ ^f ^^^ Lewis and Clark Expedition. 
William Clark j ' 

George Drouillard, interpreter. 

Patrick Gass, carpenter. 

York, slave and childhood companion of Wm. Clark. 

Cruzatte ] 

T oarsmen. 

Labiche \ 

Wm. Braxton, blacksmith. 

John Shields, gunsmith. 

John Coalter, ranger. 

Joe Shields [ members of the Expedition. 

George Shannon ] 

Black Cat, Chief of the Mandans. 

Shahaka, Chief of the Minnetarees. 

Cameahwait, Chief of the Shoshones. 

CoMCOMLY, Chief of the Chinooks. 

Rene Jaussaume ] 

Hugh McCracken | 

Alex. Henry J- fur traders. 

Mackensie I 

Larocque J 

Toby, Indian guide. 

Charboneau, fur trader, cook, husband of Sacajawea. 

Mme. Jaussaume, Indian wife of fur trader. 

Natamka, daughter of the Shoshones. 

Eagle Crest, daughter of the Mandans. 

Sacajawea, pilot to the Lewis and Clark Expedition. 

Other members of the Expedition, squaws and warriors of the 
Mandans. Shoshones and the Chinooks. C 

@)CI,D 50 754 



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P5 354-5 
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SACAJAWEA 

ACT I 

Camp of the Mandan Indians on the Missouri River in Dakota. 
On the left side is a roiv of tepees, before which sit the chief, Black 
Cat, and some of his warriors, talking to Rene Jaussaume, a fur 
trader. To the right are seen large trunks of the river cottomvoods, 
through which the squaws arul children pass from the tepees to the 
open fire, ivhere the squaws are roasting buffalo. 

It is early ivinter. 

Jaussaume. Now, Chief, how many buffalo robes have you 
saved me? 

Black Cat \shrugs his shoulders as he shakes his head]. Big 
men from Northwest traders come last moon — give horses, blankets, 
knives. Take all buffalo skins. 

Jaussaume. Sacre! I take all my horses to the Ricaras then. 
They will rob their tepees of hides for me. 

Warrior. No, the Ricaras are thieves, great thieves, and steal 
our horses out of our very corrals at our door. We kill them like 
prairie dogs. No more to kill — no more to steal horses. 

Jaussaume. Long weeks have the dog-team and I plowed 
through the wilds from Assiniboine to beat those chiens, those 
British traders. Now they have outdone me! 

Black Cat. White Face, you rest here — with us — big game 
come soon. The corn maidens send plenty — my squaws have stored 
away heaps (raises his hands to show amount), squashes, corn, 
beans, pumpkins — all wait for great buffalo drive. 

Charboneau [coming in with some wild turkeys thrown across 
his shoulder. He is attired in a big blanket with kerchief on head \ . 
See, Chief {throwing down his load at the feet of Black Cat], I 
bring vou a fine dinner today. 

Warrior. Not much for me, him, him [thumping his own 
chest, then that of the warrior of the right and left of him]. 

Black Cat. Charboneau — you — big friend. How leave you 
my friends, the Minnetarees, Shahaka, Sacajawea? 

Charboneau. They no like so much good weather. Now the 
harvest over. Big Chief. Shahaka and his band, talk all day— want 
to go on chase and get scalplocks. 

Black Cat. So here {pointing to his men]. Braves all idle, 
know not what to do before the hunt. We sorry no more Ricaras 
to kill. 

3 



Jaussaume. How about the Sioux? 

Black Cat [noticing how all his warriors draw themselves up, 
their eyes open in surprise, and turn toward him with wonder] . 
We no fight the Sioux. He bad. Kills squaws, children — leave no 
shock of corn behind him. 

Charboneau I tvith emphasis]. All diables! While Black Buf- 
falo — he lives, all nations shake with fear for lives. 

Second Warrior. What has become of the great people, the 
Omahas? 

Jaussaume. I met a few north by the great water. They were 
searching for their parents, wives, and children that the Sioux had 
taken prisoners. 

Black Cat. No find them — all dead. \Tlie squaws and chil- 
dren all rush in, grunting with fear and pointing down the river.] 
The Sioux — he comes now. 

Ch/»'?boneau. No, no. Chief. \All have risen.] Ah, the white 
man's boat — he come. 

Sacajawea {rushes in and runs to her husband. Charboneau, 
and throws herself into his arms]. Big canoes, full of white faces — 
all sing. Me go home. The Sun Father hides face. 

Charboneau [kindly]. I tell you — some day — traders come 
up that river in big boats with great bear hides. Wrap little Indian 
girls up in big skins — take them away — make slaves for pretty 
wives. 

Sacajawea \more a child-wife than ever]. I not afraid of 
white man. You come into the land of the sun and buv me from 
the chief, who steal me from my people, the Shoshoiies. Me no 
more slave, but wife of big fur trader. \Runs over to Black Cat] 
Great Chief, here come big white brothers of Charbo:ieau. Take 
all your daughters for wives. 

Black Cat \ stroking head of the little Indian girl]. They 
come here — here rest in peace, when they leave our horses and 
maidens for our own braves, tattle Saajawea, morning f:tar, no 
can steal you. 

Hugh McCrtACKEN \his heavy jaw set ivith anger comes in, 
in the dress of a fur trader]. What do those measly dogs from 
the Ohio come up here for? Don't they know that we have fought 
and won the right to buy all the furs in this country? 

Jaussaume. We will give them a cold welcome. Who goes 
into their country to trade — to hunt — not me, the wise Frenchman? 

Black Cat. Let white dogs come. \ Large canoes can now 
be seen approaching the shore] the Mandans smoke peacepipe with 
the white brother — when he come in peace! 

Charboneau. The white man — he never come to hunt for 
peace. He got too much peace in his own countree — he come to 
make heself rich. 

Sacajawea. No, my brave, the white man — he good like you 
{the white men are getting out of the boats and tying them to the 
shore. There is a great uproar among the Indian ivives and chil- 



dren. Some run back behind the tents, some peep from behind the 
trees, rushing to the front at times to get a better view] . 

George Drouillard [preceding Lewis and Clark, followed 
by the rest of the Expedition] . Mighty Chief of the Mandans, 
Black Cat, we are sent by the Great Father of the new world to 
smoke the pipe of peace with you. These are his two great sokliers, 
Warrior Lewis and Clark. They know no fear, yet thev fight not. 

Black Cat [chuckling to himself]. No fight, no warrior! 

Meriweather Lewis. True, Great Chief, but we can fight. 
We come not to take your game, your hunting grounds, nor your 
homes. We seek the big blue ocean and the source of this large 
river that we have followed so many miles. 

William Clark \his red locks of hair falling about his neck, 
approaches]. We are told that there is a Bird-Woman here who 
alone knows the trail to that source. 

Geo. Drouillard | recognizing Charboneau] . My country- 
man, do you not know me? You still live here — with the Indians? 

Charboneau [embracing Drouillard]. Qui, mon compatriot. 
I still here. [Pulling Sacajawea froin behind him, who has sought 
refuge there] I stay here because — because — you see — I find a little 
Indian wife. She — Bird-Woman. 

Wm. Clark. Then we are fortunate enough, George, for from 
her we have much to learn. 

Charboneau. She — daughter of the Shoshones — big tribe — ■ 
big warriors — the head of great Missouri, big mud river. 

Capt. Lewis. If we can reach those head waters in safety, we 
may, perchance, find some old trail or another river that leads to 
the sea. 

Sacajawea | in fear, points to York whose black ski?i and 
curly head have made all Indians silent in wonder, nil children to 
hide behind the goat-skin skirts of their mothers]. I'se so afraid 
of black 

Wm. Clark [who partially conceals York]. He is my brother 
— he brings good luck. 

Patrick Gass. Shure, he brings good luck. Didn't he fish 
me out of the cold water last night when I caught me oar on a snag 
and out I went. 

Jaussaume. We will give you no help in going further into 
the unknown land until you sit among the people of this tribe and 
smoke with them — then we will believe whatever you say over the 
pipe. 

Capt. Lewis. That is just what we wish to do. We want to 
establish permanent relations between the United States govern- 
ment and all Indian tribes. 

Hugh McCraken. Your Britisher's word means nothing. 
Have you not robbed and cheated the Indians of Detroit, under the 
pretense of friendship until their very souls are vours. 

Wm. Clark. We are Americans, sir. We are sent here 

5 



by the great president, Thomas Jefferson, with gifts and words of 
peace to make all Indians his friends. 

Hugh McCracken. To drive out all the fur traders, eh, just 
to enrich his own store? 

Jaussaume [waving his arms for all to circle about the Chief. 
Black Cat sits down at center back; to his right sits Lewis, to the 
left sits Clark. To Lewis' right sits Drouillard, to Clark's left 
sits Charboneau and little Sacajawea to help him interpret. By 
Patrick Gass sits Hugh McCracken, two Irishmen tvell mated. 
The rest of the circle is made up of warriors sitting between the 
men of the Expedition. Jaussaume waits upon his Chief]. Sons 
of the Great Father, you now sit in council with the Mandans. 
Black Cat speaks. 

Black Cat [taking pipe from little swansdown bed, puffs 
slowly, then rests it on his knee]. We, the Mandans, love peace — 
peace with our neighbor. We no kill but to save our own lives, 
we fight when enemy steal our horses — our children. [Takes an- 
other puff] smoke not from this pipe unless your heart loves the 
Mandans [the squaws are standing back, listening]. Friend or foe? 

Capt. Lewis [taking the pipe]. We love the Jireat tribe of 
the Mandans, your people — and Chief [taking a puff], we swear in 
the name of our Great Father, Jefferson, that our mission is one 
of peace and service to all mankind [luinds pipe back to Bl\ck 
Cat] . 

Black Cat. Well said, pale-face brother. [Handing pipe to 
Clak] and you, with hair like rioening corn tassles we no often 
see. The enemy — he watch only too well — when we no see strips 
the stalks at night — leave our caches empty for winter. 

Mr. Clark. This will not be so when our president knows 
that thy wish is peace. He will send his soldiers here to protect 
you; he will build a fort for your safety and build schools that 
your children shall learn all the wonders of the universe [the squaws 
begin to pass rush trays heaped with corn, boiled hominy and fine 
dried meats]. 

Black Cat [taking the pipe again]. You tell all tribes the 
same: the Sioux, the Kansans, the Omahas! 

Capt. Lewis. Yes, that has been our purpose all along the 
way. As the cold weather is about to set in, we plan to spend the 
winter wdth you. My men shall build a fort and shops, and all 
shall live in peace here as many thousand live in the great city of 
our president. 

Black Cat [putting peace pipe back on its swansdown bed]. 
Great Mystery, send the Mandans a winter of peace with plenty 
of buffalo meat. Many summers come — go — no game. Sun-priest 
pray to rising day — every day — still no deer. 

Warrior. What more can a great chief ask for his peoj)le — 
Mighty Spirit of the Happy Hunting Ground? 

Second Warrior. The Sun Dance no bring buffalo after much 
praver to hawk — bird of wisdom. 

6 



Capt. Lewis \rising]. iNow, my Chief, I am going to hang 
about your neck a medal with the image of Thomas Jefferson on 
it, and as long as you wear it you may call upon him for protec- 
tion. Here is a coat that you may wear on sacred occasions. 
To this warrior I give a fancy shirt, to this one a hand of bril- 
liant beads to show that he has won many honors; to this squaw 
I give a pocket knife to cut the corn and firewood [he continues 
to distribute presents until all have received something]. 

Wm. Clark. Now, my men, get your axes and we will fell 
these cottonwoods to build a fort that will be safe and warm for 
winter. Where is our master carpenter? 

Patrick Gass. Shure, here I be, and my helper, Joe Shields. 

Joe Shields. That depends on the job, Pat. 

Wm. Clark. Now is the time to show your skill, Patrick. Set 
your men to work and build a fort that, if we never return, will 
show the world that so far the dream of Jefferson has not been in 
vain. 

York [the children are pulling at him and wiping their fin- 
gers on his cheeks]. Marse William, dis is no place for your poor 
servant. Ah is about to lose my temper and spoil everything you 
said over dat peace pipe. 

Wm. Clark. You get the corn mill and show them how to 
grind corn. They will think you have come from the Great Spirit 
and leave you alone. 

York \to Sacajawea, pulling corn grinder out of his knap- 
sack] . See here, you fairy Bird-Woman, who knows all the trails 
from dis here land to the sea, can you put corn in an iron spirit 
like dis and make it come out ready for bread? 

Sacajawea \ backed by many curious squaws]. Me not afraid. 

York \she is about to put her finger in\. Stop! You will 
get ground up into corn meal. 

Sacajawea \a little scream brings a response from other 
Indian maidens standing by] . Corn make corn meal, me make 
Indian meal. 

George Shannon \the boy of the Expedition whose golden 
locks and soft skin stand out in contrast to that of York, comes 
in with an armful of ears of corn] . Use great care, York, to show 
them the importance of this small machine. Do not scare them. 

York. What do you think Ah is doing? Ah is more skeered 
of them than dey is of me. Think Ah is just showing off? Do 
you want my job? 

George \steps to the side of Eagle Crest, Chief Black Cat's 
daughter] . When we are gone. Eagle Crest, vour work will be 
made easier, for we have brought you many, manv useful things 
that our mothers have sent you. 

York. Eagle Crest — my! what a beautiful name! You ,try 
the grinder. 

Eagle Crest \takes hold of the grinder awkwardly, ivhile the 
other maidens titter]. What do vou make with corn flour? 

7 



George [brings a big iron pot ivhich he sets on a tripod and 
begins to kindle a fire underneath]. Here, grind in this. We will 
make some mush which we will fry in some good bear butter [all 
the time the men are hewing the trees and hoisting the logs up to 
the other men who are building the fort] . 

Sacajawea. My husband, he good cook; he make corn cake. 
All white men cook, ai? 

George. No, my Indian princess, only when they are out on 
a hunt or at war. Our mothers and sisters, like yourselves, are 
the best of cooks. 

York [holding the mill over the pot ivhile Eagle Crest 
grinds]. White man eat lots. See how hard dey work. It is too 
much work without machine for so many men. 

Eagle Crest. Lots of meal in little time. When warriors go 
on hunt squaws pound, pound — must have lots for hungry braves. 

Sacajawea [05 if interpreting for other squaws]. Big Indian, 
he eats lots when lots to eat. Sometimes no eat for days, then 
kill buffalo and eat it all by self. [All laugh]. 

Wm. Bratton [helped by John Shields, comes in, carrying 
a small forge, which they set up in foreground] . York, you better 
take the kitchen back behind the fort, because I cannot work here 
with so many curious women about. 

York. Ah done give my job to Shannon. He likes to work 
with pretty Indian girls better than me anyway. 

Charboneau [coming to move cuisine]. Monsieur Lewis, he 
make me cook. I cook for everybody. See, little Bird Woman, 
what a fine husband you get. You didn't know before, eh [picking 
up pot and tripod] ? 

Sacajawea. Yes, I know, Touissant, when I sick, you make 
me nice soup [helping him to carry the iron pot]. 

John Shields ( adjusting forge to a steady position ] . Now, 
bring on your axes to grind and spears to point. A blacksmith 
shop is here, all but the roof. 

Wm. Bratton [with hand bellows, coaxes the fire to a fine 
heat]. What have you to mend? [The Indian braves gather about, 
eyes open with wonder]. Give n-e yonder dog-pole, warrior, 
until I shape it into the sharpest of pikes. And for you, great 
soldier of the forest, I make you a scraper for your hides, and for 
all I make arrow tips in a minute that take hours to shape out 
of flint. 

First Warrior [giving an undistinguishable grunt, examining 
the arroiv head]. Me no more afraid of the Snake and Sioux! 

Second Warrior. Great medicine. 

Third Warrior. Make me good knife for squaw so she work 
more. 

Black Cat [followed by his squaiv, who carries a hundred 
pounds of specially dried meat on her back and throws it down 
at the gunsmitKs feet]. Magic w^hite man! 



John Shields. I am the maker of puns and molder of bullets. 
What will you have, red brother, what will you have? 
>> Black Cat. Me bring pemmican — trade big furs for — all 
i[f()r powder ball. 
^ John Shields. All right, you shall have it. 

Warrior | ivith a skin of corn] . We want battle axe \ drawing 
finger across his throat] to kill Arikaras. 

Wm. Bratton \to Chief's sqiiaiv]. Here, queen of the Man- 
dans, is a brass kettle that will not be hurt by the fire nor pierced 
by the arrow. Cook vour wild onion and sweet camas in it. 

Geo. Drouillard | coming in with his axe to be sharpened] . 
Those trees are spongy, and if you are not looking the axe flies 
back like a rusty trigger to hit a fellow in the face. 

Patrick Gass. And it is me that knows that \ examining his 
own axe] . The very first whack slapped me in the face, and I 
thought I had hit mv mother's bread sponge. But the old fort 
{points to the rude structure] is going up all right, I am thinking. 

Wm. Bratton. Here, Pat, let's have vour axe now. We can 
waste little time until we are behind those high pickets of vours. 
We can not tell what time those Hudson Bay fur traders Avill try 
to rout us bv sending down a savage tribe of Indians against us. 

Pat. Cass. And fh"re it's me that will be there foirjt. For 
am thinking thev will take an Irishman before they will anvbody 
else. 

Geo. Drouillard. An Irishman and an Indian never did mix 
well, Pat, I can tell you that. Is that not so. Capt. Lewis [who has 
just come up ivith his axe to be ground] ? 

Capt. Lewis. That depends on the Trishman. I think Pat can 
make himself at home with most anybody. 

Pat. Gass. I can that as long as I am near the door, and 
have a good clear space outside to run in. 

Capt. Lewis. You depend more then on vour legs than on 
vour wits. Pat? 

John Coalter \just coming up]. You would need both of 
them, Patrick, I am thinking, if a bear were behind you. 

Capt. Lewis. That's just fine, William \taking the axe and 
examining the edge]. Many thanks until you are better paid 
[Patrick and George Drouillard return to ivoods]. 

John Coalter. Shall we have a fireplace in our council hall, 
Captain? 

Capt. Lewis. Yes, indeed, John. One large enough to roast 
a good-sized ox in, too, for our men must do some hunting this 
winter if we are to make muscle for next spring's journey. \He 
pauses to notice a group of neiv Indians coming in, led by Shahaka, 
the Big White Head Chief, followed by his squatv, packing on her 
back a load of very fine pemmican] . You are welcome, friends 
and neighbors of the Mandans. 

Black Cat. Shahaka — he big chief of Minnetarees. 

Capt. Lewis (shakes hands as a sign of friendship, which 

9 



Shahaka does not understand] . We come here among you as 
messengers of peace, sent by the Great Father of your country. 

Shahaka. Big king — England? 

Capt. Lewis. No, America. All men are kings — you-^me 
[pointing to each in turn] from ocean to ocean. 

Shahaka. Me no king — me big chief. 

Capt. Lewis [laughing]. We are in search of a big river 
that leads to the ocean of the Setting Sun. Do you know the way? 

Shahaka ^shaking his head] . No go — bad Indians — fight 
much— kill everybody. Here [unloading meat from squaivs back], 
we no fight, we want to see black man. Here, plenty of pemmican 
— see! 

Capt. Lewis [calling York from the rear]. York, here is a 
friendly tribe of Indians come to pay you a visit. You may receive 
all the honors. 

Shahaka [wetting his finger and rubbing it across York's 
face]. You Indian, sick Indian? 

York [laughing, shows his white pearly teeth]. Me dead 
Indian, come to life again. 

Shahaka. Seven snows ago — no food — all hungry — turn 
black — die. Big dogs of forest eat most all Minnetarees. 

Capt. Lewis [as York turns a somersault and does a heel and 
toe dance] . You must live in peace with your neighboring tribes 
so that they will not rob you of your harvest. That is the word 
of President Jefferson. 

Shahaka. What can Indian do when the Sioux thieves come 
in the night and take all? 

Capt. Lewis [shrugging his shoulders]. That is the reason 
for our Expedition: to teach all tribes of Indians that constant war 
brings waste, famine, and destrovs the number, allowing the bi? 
dogs to eat up the little ones. The president will protect you. if 
you will heed him, by building forts and sending soldiers to your 
aid. 

Black Cat [suspiciously]. We wait — we see! 

Capt. Lewis. Come! See the first fort built upon the upper 
Missouri. When we are finished with it as winter quarters, we 
will leave it to all the tribes of the Dakotas as a veritable stockade 
against the tribes of the North [leads them out]. 

Mme. Jaussaume [a group of Indian squaws and maidens sit- 
ting in the background, now conies into view as the men leave] . 
Big man, big talk. Put Indians in there, then see no more of them. 

Eagle Crest. Me like to go in there where pretty Gold- 
Hair is. 

Sacajawea. Do not be afraid, little Eagle Crest, the Great 
Spirit will take care of you and all little Indian girls. The white 
man has a Father who does not let harm come to His children. 
Charboneau tell me so. 

Chas. Mackensie {heading a group of British fur traders, 

10 



comes suddenly around the corner of the stockade and stops to 
ivonder]. What is this, what is this in the land of the kins''' 
Larocque. Mighty high post — looks like a fort. 
Alex. Henry. Ah, the Hudson Bay fur trappers have set up 
winter quarters, no doubt. 

Chas. Mackensie [seeing group of maidens, comes over to 
them]. What means this — this fort-like building? No Indian ever 
built that. 

Mme. Jaussaume. Big White Knives come up river, big boats, 
build lodge for winter. 

Larocque. Are they traders? Do they come after our furs? 
Eagle Crest. Nice boy. He take me back to his mother. 
Mme. Jaussaume. How you know? He no take you. He 
come to steal your lands, your horses — like Sioux. 

Alex. Henry {sees Charboneau coming out of fort, calls]. 
Hey, there, Charboneau. Don't you know an old friend? 

Charboneau \ carrying a kettle]. Qui, oui, je sais. You bet 
I know you \ shaking hands]. Where you come from? And you, 
old Mackensie, and tjioji frere, Lorocque? 

Larocque What is this? Who has got in ahead of us? 
We come to build a trading por-t. 

Charboneau. Oh, fine! The president of the L^nited States, 
he send a lot of men, too, to explore up the Missouri to the moun- 
tain-tops and maybe further. Me go \ tapping his kettle], me cook. 
Mackensie. What has the president of the United States got 
to do with this? This is a part of Canada, and our rightful trad- 
ing country. 

Charboneau. Je ne sais pas. Capt. Lewis and Capt. Clark, 
very fine men — they tell you. 

Alex. Henry. You come with us, Charboneau. We need you 
in the fur trade for we are going to make a line of trading posts 
from Fort William to the Lnknown Territory. 
Charboneau. What you say? 

Larocque. Sure, you go with us. You can speak the lan- 
guages of many Indian tribes. Here are fine buckskin suits for 
you and your bride | handing him a gaudy outlay] . 

Charboneau \ throwing the kettle aside]. I be cook no more. 
Dirty work. I go, be big fur trader, get rich ! 

Sacajawea. No, no, Charboneau. You gave big promise 
already — to the captains of the Big Father. 

Mackensie. What does a word or promise mean to those 
white-haired dogs? They come to steal our rights, our king's 
lands. 

Larocque [sees York coming to the front]. Black haired. 
you better say. What is this? 

York \looking surprised]. Ah is Marse Clark's servant — 
from old Virginie. 

Alex. Henry. An aristocrat, hey? 

11 



York. No, sar, nothing like dat. Marse William is just a 
plain man — like me. 

Mackensie. What is your master's purpose in coming into 
these wilds? 

York. We's exploring, like. The president, he done sent Capt. 
Lewis and Capt. Clark to find out what's up here. 

Larocque. Say, boy, do you want to be chief? 

York. Chief of what? 

Larocque. Of an Indian tribe. 

York \hesitating]. Chief of an Indian tribe? No, sar! 

Larocque. You quit that foolish Expedition and we make you 
great chief — of Arikaras. 

York {chuckles to himself]. Me big chief of Arikaras. No, 
sar, Ah stays with Marse William 'cause Ah knows when Ah's in 
safe company. There is a prize on short, curly locks like mine. 
[Lewis and Clark, followed by .many Indians, are seen coming 
out of fort.] 

Charboneau. Say, Capt. Lewis, I no work for you. I go, 
be big fur trader with big Northwest Company. 

Capt. Lewis. All right, sir; you are not compelled to go. 
My men must go willingly, must serve willingly. 

Charboneau [taken hack, sulks au'ay]. You find no good 
cook like me in all the world. 

Wm. Clark [to Lewis]. I see that we have some visitors. 
Will you not come into the fort and accept of our hospitality? 

Capt. Lewis [less cordial]. What is your mission, gentlemen? 

Alex. Henry. We are fur traders, sir, and we are establish- 
ing a line of posts from the Great Lakes to the Rocky Mountains 
and beyond. 

Capt. Lewis. At whose request? 

Mackensie. The Northwest Fur Company has a contract with 
the British Government to buy and trade for furs on their lands. 

Capt. Lewis. But you are on American soil. 

Alex. Henry. Since when? Larocque, here, has been com.ing 
here for twentv vears, trading with these Indians. 

Larocque. Sure I have — nigh unto twenty years! 

Capt. Lewis. 'Tis little more than a year now since our presi- 
dent. Thomas Jefferson, bought this western country from Napoleon. 

Mackensie. Napoleon sold what was not his to sell. 

Alex. Henry. I thought we had settled the French for once 
and all time. 

IjAROCQUE. No, comrade, you can never down a Frenchman. 
He is sure to bob up when you are least expecting him. 

Capt. Lewis [still ivith dignity]. This was boueht by what 
is known as the Louisiana Purchase, and, as the northwest lines 
are rather uncertain, our Expedition has been fitted out to explore 
as far, as we can, to the Pacific Ocean and establish trade rela-ions 
with the Indians. We come as messengers of peace. We want the 

12 



tribes to know of their Great Father, the president, of whom they 
can ask help when tliey need it. 

Alex. Henry. We are going on much the same errand then, 
are we not? 

Capt Lewis \ (irmly]. No, because you are not on your own 
land. 

Mackensie. We claim it by the right of discovery. 

Larocque \self assured]. And by the right of trade. 

Wm. Clark. (Gentlemen, it is not our purpose to argue the 
question with you. You have heard Capt. Lewis' message. 

Capt. Lewis \?)otici?ig Charboneau's neiv outfit, icho has just 
rejoined the assembly]. Your right to trade, sirs, is not altered 
as long as it is done in the spirit of commerce, and the Indian gets 
full value for his pelts. But if you come into American territory 
to stir up animosity among the tribes, or to arouse any ill-feeling 
by bedecking them with useless presents and medals, you will be 
committing an open act against the L'nited States government and 
will be dealt with accordingly. 

Mackensie [more respectfully]. Sir, our purpose is to con- 
form with your laws. We will say nothing further until we know 
more definitely who are the rightful owners of the Dakotas. 

Charboneau [draiving near to Lewis]. Then I stay with you, 
Capt. Lewis. When he don't know where hees land is, I go not 
with him. I cook for you some more, hey? 

Capt. Lewis. Yes, Charboneau. You dismissed vourself and 
you can hire yourself over again. Now. gentlemen, if you will 
com.e into our winter quarters, Charboneau will give you a fine 
bear steak dinner, and you shall remain the guests of the American 
Republic as long as there is anything to eat \ points the way]. 

Alex. Henry. We have met gentlemen of the old school any- 
way \ shaking hands with Lewis as he passes him]. 

Mme. Jaussaume. White man talk — all talk. 

Sacajawea. Not all talk. My man, he cook and buy me 
pretty dresses with lots of furs. 

Mme. Jaussaume \to Sacajawea]. Me, Big Chief's daughter 
— you poor Shoshone. 

Sacajawea. Shoshone, good Indian. Minnetarees bad Indians 
— steal little Indian girl and me. Never let us see our mothers 
again. 

Wm. Clark | coming out, stops to look at circle of young 
maidens]. What, is this an Indian sewing bee? 

Mme. Jaussalme. We no sew. Big fur men from Canada 
bring pretty dresses \ strokes the dress she has on to show him]. 

Wm. Clark. Did you, too, Sacajawea, buv vour dress with 
skins of beaver? 

Sacajawea [smiling]. Charboneau — he buv it with many 
skins. 

Mme. Jaussaume [pointing to Sacajawea]. She only slave 
— white man buy her — slave. Me, Bii Chief's daup;hter. 

18 



Wm. Clark [looking with compassion on little SacajaweaI . 
You are no slave, Sacajawea; all daughters of America's forest 
were ever born free. 

Eagle Crest. Me want to marry white man. Don't want to 
be slave to big Indian brave. Brave men no makes wives slaves. 

Wm. Clark. We need a guide who can speak all the dialects 
of the northwest tribes of Indians. 

Mme. Jaussaume. No get one — all bad Indians. Kill you 
before you talk. 

Sacajawea. No, no, Shoshone good Indians. They are my 
people! 

Wm. Clark. Then will you, Sacajawea, go to pilot us through 
your country, to show us the way to the river" of the sun? 

Mme. Jaussaume. Oh! She make much money. Hu-^band 
be rich then. 

Wm. Clark. No, we have no money to give. Everyone must 
give a part of himself to the land of which he enjoys the freedom. 
Sacajawea, are you willing to give your services to this new country 
to help find a path to the sea, that men mav follow in all the years 
to come? 

Sacajawea [rising]. Yes, Capt. Clark [extending her hand 
to him] I go. I know many, many trails where my people go, when 
me little, to hunt, many secret places in the mountains where we 
hide when the bad tribes wear war paint and come to shoot us. My 
pieople have no guns. No white traders ever come to our lodges 
to trade power ball for hides. We will go to them and help them. 
We will find them. 

Wm. Clark. Yes, we will find them with your help, and, too, 
we will find the path to the western sea. The best room in the 
fort will be yours this winter [stands and looks at her for a 
moment] . No princess of royal blood has ever been cherished by 
her people as you shall be by the men of Fort Mandan, no queen 
shall ever go down in history, having done more for her country 
than little Sacajawea, the American princess of the Northwest. 

Sacajawea [all radiant^. To the Sunset Sea! 

Wm. Clark [leading Sacajawea into the fort]. The key to 
the Northwest has been found. 

curtain 



14 



ACT II 

In the distance the snow-capped mountains can be seen ivith 
green and ivell-wooded slopes. In the foreground are large 
boulders, rolled high, one upon the other. Captains Lewis and 
Clark are standing on respective heights, looking at the dashing 
waters beneath. 

Capt. Lewis. Here we are at the forks at last [scanning the 
horizon to see ivhat is in the distance] . 

Wm. Clark. Yes, now we must find out which of the three 
forks is the true Missouri. 

Capt. Lewis. See the snow-capped mountains, the grand old 
Rockies at last! 

Wm. Clark. At last! 

Capt. Lewis. But not the least. 

Wm. Clark. It is some reward to see those mighty peaks, if 
we never reach the roaring torrents of the red fish river, which the 
old Indian told us would take us to the sea. 

Capt. Lewis. My reward shall be only when I see the great 
Pacific. My life's hope is there. 

Wm. Clark. And mine, too, Meriweather. 

Capt. Lewis. 'Tis not to be in vain, William, that our Presi- 
dent Jefferson's dream of an outlet to the Pacific Ocean should be 
through the great Northwest? 

Wm. Clark. All the Indian tribes that we have met assure 
us that we are on the Sun-Set Trail to that sea. 

Capt. Lewis. And what shall we name the forks of the great, 
old, muddy Missouri? 

Wm. Clark. To our greatest statesmen, do you not think? 

Capt. Lewis. If you leave it to me, then I should say 
[pointing] the Jefferson, the Madison, the Gallitin. 

Wm. Clark. Good! You couldn't have done better, Meri- 
weather. 

Patrick Gass [head man on the tow-line of first boat, coming 
up the rocky and narrow stream]. It feems to me. Captains, that 
we are about at our journey's end, for when a feller has to drag 
his boat for want of water he better go overland. 

Capt. Lewis. We must hold council and decide. Here we 
are at the forks about which the medicine man of the Minnetarees 
told us, but which is the right one. 

Pat. Gass. Take council in your own head and decide your- 
selves. 'Tis better I have always found than the brains of many 
men. 

15 



Wm. Clark. We have been fortunate so far, Patrick, because 
we have taken the advice of the Indian tribes that happened in our 
pathway. We do not want to make a mistake and lose the good 
summer. 

Geo. Drouillard. We need that for traveling. We must 
make trail while the sun shines. 

Cruzatte \tjing his boat to a boulder]. Or drive a dog- 
sled, hey? 

Labiche \ jumping over the edge of cajioe]. You are all 
right at the oar, Cruzatte, but you would never make a dog-team go. 

Labiche. I tell you what. You look and see where all that 
mud water comes from and then you have the right branch. 

Geo. Drouillard. Now there is some sense to that remark. 

Charboneau [unloading himself and Sacajawea from the last 
boat, ivho now has a little papoose strapped to her back] . Will 
we make camp here. Captains? If you do, I go back and take a 
shot at a bighorn I saw back there. 

Wm. Clark. Yes, Charboneau, we will unload and camp here 
for the present. 

Capt. Lewis. If you want to keep up your good reputation, 
Charboneau, you will get us the best dinner you are capable of. 
The men are tired and worn out by the long pull. 

Sacajawea {looking about to ascertain her whereabouts]. 
Home, home once again ! Back to the camping ground of my 
childhood ! 

Wm. Clark. Dreams of childhood never fade in the human 
heart, be that heart savage or civilized. 

Sacajawea. But then we are hungry. I shall gather you 
some sarvis berries and pommes blanches for your dinner. You 
shall see how good they are. 

Capt. Lewis. Little Sacajawea, how bright vou always make 
the darkest day. Surely the little heart of an Indian woman is 
made of pure gold [goes out to explore the neighborhood]. 

Sacajawea \laughing]. White man's heart, too, pure gold. 
Shine like the sun. 

Geo. Shannon [almost in rags, his buckskin suit hardly hold- 
ing together, his foxskin cap torn and tattered]. This is where I 
stay until I make myself a new suit and moccasins. These rocks 
and prickly pears have torn my garments into shreds. 

Patrick Gass [himself in torn attire]. You are not the only 
one that needs a tailor. Methinks I will do a bit of that myself 
while the Captains are trying to find out where thev are going. 

Labiche [setting up camp]. My gun needs mending, for a 
new food supply has to be found somewhere, and I must do my bit. 

Wm. Clark [from a high point]. It will not be wanting here, 
Labiche, for the valley below abounds in all kinds of game, birds 
and wild grains. Surely this is America's Paradise! 

Sacajawea. Yes, Captain [returning], but here more Indians 
have been killed than in any spot in the world. It is a paradise 

16 



only to draw llie huni>ry tribe.^ here in search of food. When they 
think they are secure for the winter, another tribe descends upon 
them to scalp and kill. The winning people take possession until 
they in turn are routed and destroyed by a stronger tribe. 

Capt. Lewis \ walks in, holding up a small moccasin]. Here, 
Sacajawea, see what I found. Does this belong to your tribe? 

Sacajawea {coming over to look]. No, no Shoshone! Black- 
feet! Let's go. Blackfeet never show mercy for anyone. 

Wm. Clark. We must make peace with the Blackfeet Indians 
of all tribes then. 

Sacajawea {pointing to rocks]. There is the very spot where 
I was stolen. See yonder is Beaverhead Rock. Another little girl 
and I wandered upon that hillside to gather berries when the Min- 
netarees m.ade an attack upon the Shoshones. Our men, being so 
few in number, did not try to fight but fled. I was taken captive. 

Capt. Lewis. And now we have brought you back. \ on have 
been a good guide so far, Sacajawea, but you must help us to find 
your people. They must give us horses, for the boats are little use 
to us now. 

York \u'ith a mad rush, falls into their midst]. Oh, Lordy, 
did Ah get here! What have Ah seen? What have Ah seen? 

Wm. Bratton \adjusting his forge]. That is just it. What 
have you seen? 

York. He — he was after me. 

Wm. Clark. Well, we are sure of one thing, and that is he 
didn't get you. 

York [still panting]. Well, Ah is not so sure. 

Capt. Lewis. What was it ,do you know? 

York. Do I know, Capt. Lewis \his fright makes him stand 
and stare].. Do — oh 

Wm. Bratton. Well, you better go back and take another 
look at him. 

York. Go back — did-you-say-go back! Oh, Marse William, 
dat sure was the biggest bear dat the Lord eber did make. 

All Voices. A bear! 

York. Yes, sar! And Ah tell you he was as big as dat boat 
dere. He was coming right at me, too. 

Wm. Clark. Did you run? 

York. Marse William, did Ah run? Here Ah is, and Ah is 
sure that old feller is just started \all laugh]. 

Capt. Lewis \on the lookout with his glasses]. I see a lone 
Indian. 

Wm. Clark. Is he coming this way? 

Capt. Lewis. No, he is standing as still as a tree. He evi- 
dently has seen us, and is waiting to see what we are going to do. 

York. Don't let him come dis way for Ah's done had all the 
excitement Ah want for one day. 

Wm. Clark. It is four months since we have met an Indian, 

17 



and we will be in sore straits if we do not get supplies, horses and 
more information as to the northwest route. 

Capt. Lewis. Come here, Sacajawea, and see if you can tell 
me to what tribe he belongs. 

Sacajawea [leaps upon the boulder and takes the spyglass in 
her hand] . Oh, he is a Shoshone. See, he has no saddle, yet he 
rides his horse like a true Indian. 

Capt. Lewis. We must speak with him. How can we tell 
him that we are on a friendly mission. 

Sacajawea. Take this three-cornered robe, raise it above your 
head, then sweep the ground with it. Do it three times and he will 
understand. 

Capt. Lewis. What does that signify? 

Sacajawea. Come and sit on the robe with me. 

Capt. Lewis [following her directions]. He is coming, he 
comes closer — closer. What shall I say when he gets here [all 
are eagerly watching] ? 

Sacajawea. Tabba bone, tabba bone. It means white skin. 
Show him the skin of your arm. 

Capt. Lewis [the Indian rides up close to the camp]. Tabba 
bone, tabba bone [the rider looks intently, but when the Indian 
sees the skin of the white mans arm, he lets out one loud war cry 
and is gone] . 

Wm. Clark. Now something frightened him, what was it? 

Sacajawea [rejoicing]. He will come back, he will come 
back. He has gone to tell the warriors; they will all come. You see. 

Capt. Lewis. Are you sure, Sacajawea, that he is of your 
people? 

Pat. Gass [ivho has been in and out, making camp for the 
night]. Shure, would a girl ever forget her own kin? I would 
know one of me own the minute he talks. 

Joe Shields. Do you have to wait until a fellow talks? Didn't 
the Bird-Woman know him when he was a mile off? 

Sacajawea [still looking through the glass]. Here they come. 
See; they are filing down through the gulches from vonder moun- 
tain. Down, down they fly like birds. Oh, thev are my people 
[holding the glass in silence for a moment]. They have their 
cheeks painted in red ; they come in peace | gives the glass to Capt. 
Lewis and jumps down, running to Clark]. Please let me go to 
meet them. 

Wm. Clark. We will need you here, when thev come, to in- 
terpret for us. Then you can see them all — all here together. 

Capt. Lewis. Yes, Sacajawea, and you must help us greet 
them. [To the men] bring the boxes with the presents of clothes, 
blankets, beads, etc. 

Sacajawea. Yes, and the pretty dresses, too, for the squaws 
will come soon. They are just like their white sisters; they won't 
stay at home when the men are gone on a holiday. 

Jaussaume. Sacajawea [stopping a moment ivith his load], 

18 



you speak the truth. All women are vain. I have seen women in 
Paree who spent their last sou for a pretty kerchief, and I have 
seen Indian women try because they had no sou to buy a red 
piece of calico with. 

Capt. Lewis. Here they are [steps doun from boulder as the 
tall, giant-like figures stalk in. He stands by Saca.jawea as she 
greets them]. 

Sacajawea. My people! My people! 

Cameahwait [Chief of the Shoshones, puts left arm over the 
right shoulder, clasping the back of Capt. Lewis., left cheeks 
meeting, as he exclaims] Ah-hi-e, ah-hi-e! 

Sacajawea. Great Chief of the Shoshones stands face to face 
with two great wise men and their band of explorers. 

Cameahwait I stands in center of his warriors, who form a 
crescent]. We come to welcome these strange men. Whence come 
you? 

Capt. Lewis. Great Chief of the Shoshones, we are messen- 
gers of peace of the Inited States of America. 

Cameahwait. Abide here with us then, for this wonderful 
country abounds in all kinds of game, fish and grains — plenty for 
all who live in peace. 

Wm. Clark. We cannot remain long with you for we are in 
search of a trail over the mountains to the sea. 

Capt. Lewis. Have you a wise man among you who can 
draw a map, showing us how to gel to the head waters of the great 
fish-river? 

Cameahwait. Not until we have smoked the pipe of peace, 
white man. Our word is only sacred then — and yours? 

Capt. Lewis. Our word is the word of our government. It 
shall never fail? 

Sacajawea [all sit down in a circle, Sacajwea between Lewis 
and Clark to interpret for them. The pipe is passed in silence 
from Chief to Captains when Sacajawea rises]. Great Chief and 
warriors of the Shoshones. You were once a strong tribe that 
lorded over all the lands from the Saskatchewan to the Yellow- 
stone. You counted your buffalo by the thousands, your elk and 
bighorn by the tens of thousands. The very birds of the northern 
prairie feared your arrow as did the great tribes of Indians from 
the west, the east, the south. They coveted your hunting ground, 
they closed in on you little by little; they killed you in great num- 
bers; year by year they took your choicest lands, drove you back 
into the fastnesses of the Big Rock mountains. Here vou are a mere 
handful of men, wasted by war and strife. These good men come 
with a message of peace from a Great Father who beseeches you 
to lay down your tomahawl:, take off your war paint and live in 
harmony with your brothers, the Indian of all nations [she pauses 
and looks at the Chief]. 

Subordinate Chief. They speak true, my Chief — if this is 
the voice of the white man. 

19 



Cameahwait. We want no peace if it is at the cost of our 
lands. It has always been that the big snake eat the little one, for 
the Great Spirit willed it that way. When we can no longer with- 
stand our enemy, we must die. If you come here with big talk 
like this just to take our hunting ground we will treat only as 
enemies. 

Sacajawea. Long nave I been away from you, though my 
life has been short in years. Had you been strong as you once 
were, never would you have retreated and left your squavfs and 
children to the mercy of the enemy. Do you not know m.e, brothers? 
Sacajawea, who comes back to you, leading this small ExpeJition 
that has suffered many perils to make, the greatest of all conquests, 
the red man love his brother as himself. Cam-Cameahwait ! 

Cameahwait \ stretching out his arms to her]. Sacajawea, 
Sacajawea — my little sister. 

Sacajawea [pauses for a moment, then runs to him, throwing 
her blanket over his head]. My brother! My true brother. 

Cameahwait [uncovering himself] . Then these men ask me 
to make peace with dogs that have stolen my sister. 

Sacajawea. ^es, brother, for the enemy has been good to- 
me. See, I have a white husband [pointing to Charboneau in the 
background], and a ?.ittle papoose [turns her back]. All of which 
has made me very happy. 

Cameahwait [rising and extending his arms to the Captains, 
who rise also] . When you bring my sister back to me, surely you 
have come on a peace-errand. I shall grant you every request 
that is in my power to meet. 

Wm. Clark. See [pointing to his gun], man is powerless 
today to wage a war of flint against a war of steel. The big fur 
dealers of the Northwest have well supplied your ejiemies with 
guns, and now, what can you hope for, but death at their hands 
without them ? 

Warrior. How much cost a good gun? 

Wm. Clark. Your fleetest horse. 

Cameahwait. All of our horses are of the best. The Sho- 
shones' only safeguard for years has been their horses. 

Sacajawea [to Jaussaume at the side]. When you get back 
to the good Minnetarees tell your wife, if you please, that Saca- 
jawea, too, is an Indian princess. 

Jaussaume. My wife's only boast is that her father is a chief. 
It is all the family lore she has; let her claim it 

Sacajawea. No, I will not. My brother, too, is a chief. Tell 
her so. 

Natamka [running over to Sacajawea to embrace her]. My 
friend, my old friend, do you know me? 

Sacajawea [drawing hack to look at Natamka] . Oh, my lost 
sister. You came back — safe? 

Natamka. Yes, Sacajawea, when I escaped I made my way 
eastward toward the shining mountains. For days and days I had 

20 



nothing to eat but berries; often I was disturbed in my bed by 
beasts seeking their lair, and once — once I saw from a cliff the 
enemy camped in the valley below. 

Sacajawea. But you have no white husband like mine. 

Natamka \clapping her hands]. No, Sacajawea, but I got 
home to my people. Home, home {turning to the mountains]. 

Sacajawea. And my papoose {turns proudly around]? 

Natamka. Oh, what a warrior he will make! 

Sacajawea. No, he will not fight. He will be a captain of 
peace like his white brothers. 

Capt. Lewis [turning from group and addressing a short, 
sturdy old Indian with cropped hair] . And so, Toby, you shall 
be our guide. 

Toby. To the north — is the trail to the great river — red fish. 

Wm. Clark \ivif.h approval]. I believe you. 

Cameahwait. No, no! Big rocks, water foams — no canoe 
can pass through. Here [pointing to the ground ivith an arrow], 
walk half a moon, meet big river, walk two suns toward the setting 
sun, climb big rock mountains to top-rocks^ — too sharp for horse. 
For seven days walk over big snow blanket, no horse, nothing to 
eat; then on other side lots of bad Indians {flattens his nose to 
indicate the Nez Perces]. 

Capt. Lewis \looking doubtfully]. If any Indian has ever 
crossed that trail. I can, Cameahwait. 

Toby. I have crossed it many times. Lots of hard work, 
but it is the only known way to get to the Northwest. 

Capt. Lewis. Then it is the trail that we take. 

Cameahwait. No, you stay with us until the next planting 
time, and then we will send a better guide with you. {Calls a 
youth to come fonvard] tell these white brothers how you go to 
your people. 

Youth, \ points to the Southwest]. Seven suns over high 
barren mountains — no game — must live on roots — be careful not 
to meet a war-like tribe called Broken Moccasin — trail so rocky 
must kill horse on journey. Then ten suns through desert with- 
out game, berries, water. Brave meets big river with no fish. 
Three suns march to fertile country — where my people live— on 
big river that flows into salt water — stinking water — find white 
man there. 

Wm. Clark {looking on map ivith Capt. Lewis]. That is a 
southern route that he is describing, Meriweather. Yes, here is 
the desert, then the great Rio Colorado to the Gulf of California. 

Capt. Lewis [shaking his head]. That will not do for our 
way must be to the Northwest. 

Wm. Clark {handing the youth a knife that pleases him very 
much]. That is not our trail now. Son of the Red Man, but we 
may return that way. We hope that this little gift will be of 
some use on your homeward journey. 

Capt. Lewis \ handing him a hook]. In this little book you 

21 



will find Wm. Clark's and my name. If you meet any of our 
white brothers tell them that you left us in good health at the 
Threeforks of the Missouri. 

Toby. You will find, Captains, that I am right. 

Capt. Lewis. We know you are right, Toby \the Indians 
begin to file out without ceremony, one by one, through the 
boulders]. 

Wm. Clark \ looks at Lewis, who returns it]. Ah? 

Capt. Lewis. What is the matter now, Sacajawea? 

Sacajawea. My people think, because you do not take their 
advice, that there is some conspiracy afloat \the wen of the Expe- 
dition can now be see?! seated to the right, meiuling moccasins, 
kettles, boxes, etc.] 

Pat. Gass. Now, who would conspire with an Indian, when 
a feller is in a predicament, the likes of us. 

York. Five thousand miles from home at dat. 

Wm. Bratton. Yes, and bears as common as field mice. 

John Coalter. Captains, you didn't make your visit well 
enough known. You should have said more about horses and less 
about the Northwest trail. 

Wm. Clark. Do you suppose that they think that we will 
tell the enemy, the Blackfeet, of their iDresent canTpin^; ground? 

Sacajawea. Mv people think that his white brother is 
treacherous. 

Capt. Lewis. William, we must have horses at any cost. 
You take half of our men, and explore along the northern branch 
for three days to see if there is any other means of obtaining 
supplies. 

Wm. Clark. Will you remain here? 

Capt. Lewis. No. In the meantime myself and the rest of 
the men will visit the lodges of the Shoshones to make peace with 
them and further trade relations. 

Cruzatte \hobbling over to Clark]. Now that vou abandon 
my good boat for a horse, what use am I, Master William? 

Wm. Clark. We need every man of you for we may ypt have 
to pack our own loads. Sink your boat, Cruzatte, that we may 
have it on our homeward journey. 

Labiche. We will fill it so full of stones that not even a 
witch can float it \they disappear], 

Capt. Lewis. Men, are you one and all with us? The way 
is long and dangerous. Food will be scarce, and you are apt to 
fall victims to disease, but the glory shall be yours as well as 
your country's. 

All to a Man. Yes, we are with you! 

Pat. Gass [the last to rise]. Share, you don't think we'd 
desert you now when you are near your journey's end? 

Capt. Lewis. The hardest is yet to come. 

Geo. Shannon. Then let it come \his youthful figure is seen 
disappearing over the boulders]. 

22 



Capt. Lewis. How soon will you be ready, William, to start 
on your secret exploring trip? 

Wm. Clark. At once. Is Sacajawea to accompany me? We 
may meet some Indian tribes on the way. 

Capt. Lewis. I think we shall need her here more to intercede 
with her own people. She must a'^^ure them of our honest inten- 
tions, and in some way help us to acquire at least twenty horses. 

Sacajawea \ivho has been standing to the side with her arms 
about Natamka] . Yes, Capt. Lewis. I shall stay with you. Once 
the chiefs have talked if over with the warriors they will be con- 
vined that you have not come to destroy them. Mv brother gave 
his word to protect and aid you — I know that he will keep his word. 

Wm. Clark. Then I am off, my good brother. Good luck 
to you \he goes out with several men], 

Capt. Lewis | going back toward the bank of the river^ . Saca- 
jawea, you must now sharpen up your wits and find out how we 
are to make peace with your people. I rely upon you \the rest 
of the men pass out] . 
, Sacajawea. I shall not fail you [Lewis bows and goes out]. 

Natamka \ putting her arms about Sacajawea]. No, no sister! 
Do not let our tribe fall into the hands of these land pirates. 

Sacajawea \drawing back, surprised]. They will not harm 
you or my brothers. They are honest men.. 

Natamka \ frees Sacajawea and stands back in anger]. So 
that is what you learn in the camp of the enemy? Treachery! 
You marry a white man and bring all his brothers here to slay 
and kill your own good people! 

Sacajawe\ \more composed]. You are suspicious like al! 
Indians, little Natamka. Be brave and strong for these men come 
from a-far-off to make a path that others may come to bring us 
their life. 

Natamka \ stamping her foot]. Their life! We do not want it. 

Sacajawea. I shall build a fire here as a pledge of faith to 
my people. You must see that it is ever kept burning. I go to 
the Shining Sea, Natamka, but I shall return — to you — to the once 
great tribe of the Shoshones! 

Natamka. You go to tell the fierce tribes of the Snow 
Mountains that we are few in number, that we have no fire arrows, 
and then they come down to get our old hunting ground. 

Sacajawea \the fire notv blazes]. Natamka! How can you 
say that? 

Nata.mk:a \drawing a knife]. You shall not go. I shall kill 
you to save my people. You {struggles with Sacajawea] shall 
not betray us. 

Sacajawea \holding firmly to Natamka's wrist to ward off 
the knife] . Child of the Shoshones, know you not that I love my 
tribe as much as you do? I go to do them a great service. The 
Great Spirit has willed it! 

23 



Natamka \with a lunge, frees herself. Stands hack, her breast 
heaving] . Traitor ! 

Sacajawea [climbing the topmost boulder, overlooking the 
valley] . Natamka, little sister, spit out the poison from your heart 
and hear the voice of the white man. Strife and enmity have kept 
our people from uniting: we have never known the white man's 
peace nor how to live as a big family in a big land. Our trails 
have been too short and broken. They led nowhere. Th? Indiii 
trails shall now be pieced together and become the white man's 
roads. 1 go to help them. Await my return and keep the signal 
fires burning, for over the mountains vonder 1 shall learl this 
little band of men to the Great Water. The sea and sea shall meet 
[disappears; Natamka stands alone wondering as the curtain falls 
slowly] . 

CURTAIN 



24 



ACT III 

All Indian village by the sea. The huts are made of boards, 
half sunk in the ground, the entrance of ivhich is through a hole 
in the gable about two foot square. The descent is made by means 
of a ladder. Fish and elk are drying on beams, supported by poles, 
while on the scaffolds are heaps of dried provisions to be stored 
away for ivinter food. In the distance canoes, raised up on scaf- 
folds, can be seen in which their dead are buried. These Chinook 
Indians wear robes of fur which are tied across the breast, falling 
a little below the thighs; or a blanket of finely ivoven ivool over 
their shoulders with a skirt of fur that falls to the knees. All wear 
hats of hear grass woven in with bark of cedar, cone shape, to 
ward off the incessant rain. The men sit about a large camp-fire 
in the foreground, watching a few of the younger Indians engaged 
in a game of chance, while the women are busily engaged in drying 
their meats. It is flight time, and the only light they have comes 
from the burning logs. 

First Indian | attempting to throw a small disc into a hole 
between two pins, a foot apart]. My canoe is at stake and I must 
win. 

Second Indian [seeing that the disc falls within the pin, but 
not in the hole]. You have neither won nor lost; try it again. 

First Indian \all look on in wonder and excitement]. This is 
my last possession except my wife, since vou have won everything 
else from me \ throws the disc]. 

Second Indian \ picks it up from outside of pins]. Lost, 
lost! The canoe is mine. Now for the wife. 

First Indian [all look anxiously as the Indian pauses to 
think] . No, I can make another canoe, hut a good Chinook wife 
is not to he gambled for. I give my place to someone else. 

Third Indian [taking his stand about ten feet from the pins]. 
I will play you for that belt of blue beads. 

Second Indian [looking covetously at the belt]. No, I would 
rather play you for that canoe I just won. 

Third Indian. First we play for the belt and then the canoe, 

Second Indian. Then we do not play at all \to his com- 
panion at the side]. Do you want to take my place? I take no 
chances with death. You remember that Clatsop died the day 
after I won the belt from him. 

Fourth Indian. I'll play you, brother, for your skin of sea- 
otter against my fishhook. What say you, Chief Comcomly? 

25 



COMCOMLY. The white trader brings lots of blue beads next 
time; better save furs for trade. 

Third Indian. I win fishhook — you see — never lose — skin 
of sea-otter bring luck [throws outside of pin]. 

Fourth Indian. Well, you shall not have this one, then, for 
you have lost. It shall make a fine, soft couch for my new little 
wife. Now, who will take a chance with me [a wild shriek is 
heard] ? 

Squaw [running into their midst]. We-ark-koompt ! We-ark- 
koompt! [Squaws rush in from all the corners to find out what 
the excitement is about.] 

COMCOMLY [rising from the center of the group]. We-ark- 
koompt, the pony express, brings good news, I hope. 

We-ark-koompt [the Indian scout, astride a small horse, rides 
fearlessly into their midst]. Big white men with two chiefs coming. 
Some walk, some in canoes. Red man's friend. 

COMCOMLY. Where from? 

We-ark-koompt. Over mountains, from the sea of the Rising 
Sun. 

CoMCOMLY [doubtfully]. No white man can cross the blankets 
of snow that cover the mountains. 

Indians [all grunting]. No, no, no! 

CoMCOMLY [seeing Toby a feiv steps ahead of band]. You 
live to come back to see Comcomly. 

Toby. Ai, Chief of Chinooks, I come back again — bring 
white chiefs safe. 

Wm. Clark [leading, is worn from travel; his ghastly look 
denotes hunger. Lets his pack fall]. Food — water — for my 
comrades. 

Comcomly. White chief come always in boat [Indians retreat 
in fear] . 

COALTER and JOE SHIELDS [their leather breeches and mocca- 
sins in tatters, throiv down their packs and fall to the ground]. It 
has been a long and weary tramp. Captain, without anything to 
eat for fifteen days but fish, and no salt with that. 

Wm. Clark. I know it has, boys, but we will rest here a few 
days, and perhaps we can get something more nourishing:. See, 
here is Sacajawea; she always gets close to the food — through the 
squaws' hearts. 

Sacajawea [riding horseback, descends, iveary and ill]. Do- 
you-think — Capt Lewis will make it — by boat? I thought the trail 
[pauses] would be easier — but I am afraid — the men are all too 
foot sore to ever get here [the squaws have been hiding, but noiv, 
seeing Sacajawea with papoose on her back, run out with blankets 
and food on rush mats to restore her strength. The men come for- 
ivard now slowly and timidly] . 

Comcomly. Lose ship — get lost? 

Wm. Clark. No, my good chief. We cam.e overland, through 

26 



the mountains. It was a harder journey than we expected. Not 
much game this side of big Rockies, so the men are famished. 
CoMCOMLY. No berries — no wapato? 

Wm. Clark. Yes, our pilot there, Sacajawea, found many 
roots and wild vegetables for us, but our men were not used to the 
diet and it made them ill. 

Pat. Gass \entering, shaking his ivet clothes]. Shure, Cap- 
tain, I have never seen so much water in me whole life. It has 
been falling rivers for ten days now. 

Charboneau [folloiving]. Say, Captain, what you think? 
York, he sick, back by the falls. Make big fire, wrap him in big 
fur rug and leave him. He no can make it any further. 

Wm. Clark. He will soon be drenched back there if this rain 
keeps up. I will take Sacajawea's horse and go back and fetch him. 
Toby. No, Captain, I go — bring black medicine man. 
Sacajawea [restored, sits up]. I am better now, Captain. 
Let me do something for you. 

Wm. Clark. No, I am all right now, Sacajawea, or will be 
with a little rest by this good fire. 

Comcomly \to warriors]. Go help white men to find brothers. 
Get boats — up stream [there is a rush for the canoes, ivhich are 
filled in a minute, disappearing up the river]. 

Toby [entering, with York on his back]. Me come all right, 
Captain; bring black medicine man safe. 

Pat. Gass. The black rascal better take some of his own medi- 
cine then, I'm thinking, Toby. 

Toby. Hmph ! Medicine man get sick first — then cure every- 
body. 

Wm. Clark. Well, York will never practice on himself, I 
promise you that. I even saw him throw away that choke-berry 
tea Sacajawea gave him, that cured so many of our men back there 
on the prairie. 

York. Marse William, you never war so sick as Ah is now. 
Just let me die [rolls himself up in a blanket by the fire]. 

Sacajawea [administering to Coalter and Shields, who are 
lying on their huge packs]. My poor boys, so sick. [Taking 
bark cup of liquid jrom old squaivs hands] here is some good 
medicine from this country. It make you well — right away. 

John Coalter [sitting up, trying to drink]. You have been 
the only sunshine we have seen for a fortnight, Sacajawea. 

Shields [taking the cup from Coalter]. I haven't much faith 
in these herbs and leaves. But then I will drink it for you, princess, 
just because you have faith in it. 

Sacajawea. Yes, it make you well; drink it all up. [Seeing 
the rush of Imlians to river] ai, here they come! Capt. Levvris — 
he come safe with all the men, 

Wm. Clark [greeting Capt. Lewis]. Thank God for your 
safe arrival, Meriweather. \\ has been a hard journey, harder than 
we thought. We began to fear that you had been lost. 

27 



Capt. Lewis. One boat after another has been dashed to 
pieces. Cruzatte and Labiche are good oarsmen on the great 
rivers of the East, but over these dashing torrents it takes an Indian 
to steer one safely around the rocks [the Indians are landing their 
canoes, and helping to unload the luggage of the white men]. 

CoMCOMLY \ greeting Capt. Lewis and his men]. You first 
white faces to come over mountain [pointing to canoes on scaf- 
folds]. Bad, bad! All die who go that way. 

Capt. Lewis. We are the pathfinders for a great nation. We 
have been sent by a great chief to find his people. You are his 
children. 

COMCOMLY. You find me all right, how you get back to tell 
that big chief? 

Capt. Lewis [smiling at the question]. The return trip is 
never as hard to make. 

CoMCOMLY. What you call him, that big chief? 

Capt. Lewis. Thomas Jefferson, the president of the United 
States. 

All the Men. All hail to Thomas Jefferson. 

CoMCOMLY. We no hail, we smoke [motioning all the men 
to sit down, which they do, in a circle] . 

Wm. Clark [taking out his old sandstone pipe]. You will 
smoke with your white brothers, Chief? They wish to make peace 
with the red man [the sqiiaivs are putting blankets around the 
shoulders of the white men, showing their hospitality, while the 
younger girls stand behirul Sacajawea, admiring her robe and 
playing tvith the little papoose] . 

CoMCOMLY. Indians of the Big Water — no fight. 

Capt. Lewis. Then why are your tribes so few in numbers? 

CoMCOMLY [pointing to coffin-canoes]. Sick — die \scratching 
himself to indicate disease]. 

Wm. Clark. Oh, smallpox? 

Geo. Shannon [enters hurriedly from left\. Oh, here you 
are — all safe. 

Wm. Clark. Welcome back, our young hunter. What luck? 

Geo. Shannon. Luck enough. Three days ago I ran upon 
a band of elk and killed four. Finding that I couldn't carry but 
the tongues, marrow and choicest parts, I hung the rest up to dry 
in case we ever chanced back that way. I was retracing my steps 
to join the party when I met twenty Indians of an unknown tribe. 
They would not leave me, following me into the woods and out 
along the river. I thought it best to be friendly, so I built a fire, 
cooked them a good supper, and smoked with them. After which 
we talked until late in the night, sign language being the only 
medium. When we were all tired out we lay down to sleep, my 
rifle under my head. It was rather late in the morning when I 
awoke to find my friends gone as well as my meat and n;un. I 
have subsisted since on roots and berries and what fish I found 

28 



thrown upon the bank, walking all the time hack towards my 
comrades. 

Capt. Lewis. We are glad to have you back safe then, George. 
Our journey has been a perilous one, too, both by land and bv 
water, but we are glad to be safe in camp with this friendly tribe 
of red men. 

CoMCOMLY \ still curious]. How you get over mountains? 

Capt. Lewis. That part of the way was not so difficult. With 
horses that we procured from the Shoshones we crossed the passes 
of the Bitter Root mountains with m.ore or less ease. It was mid- 
sumn^er and trails were well marked. The horses seemed to know 
the old Lolo trail, and they brought us safely to the lodges of the 
Nez Perces. Our sojourn there may have proved our ruin and end, 
had it not been for a fair daughter, Watkuese, who begged that 
our lives be saved. There we left our horses until our return, 
burnt canoes out of logs, and floated safely enough down the 
Kooskooske into the Snake River on — on to the Columbia. 

Pat. Gass. And it was there — on the beautiful Columbia — 
that we near met our finish. 

Cruzatte. That was nothing, Patrick, compared to the days 
and days of rain. 

Pat. Gass. Blame it on the rain, then. But it seems to me 
that your poor oarsmanship had a great deal to do with it. 

Wm. Clark. Cruzatte, it is hard to exhibit one's craftsman- 
ship under such conditions, is it not? 

Pat. Gass. Them log canoes are no vehicles to shoot the 
rapids with or dash over the rocks, I am telling ye. 

John Coalter. That's an easy way to explain your own 
awkwardness. Blame it on to the canoes [the men press closer to 
the fire as the ivarmth revives their forlorn spirits]. 

Charboneau. I- — very glad when you take me away from the 
oars. Captains. 

Pat. Gass. After you spilled everybody out \all laugh]. 

CoMCOMLY. White man laugh — ha! ha! 

Wm. Clark. Yes, Chief, our boys laugh a great deal when 
they are in good health. But the last three weeks of hard travel 
with heavy rains has about taken all the gaiety out of them. 

Capt. Lewis. I am sure the men will all be better tomorrow. 
Chief. As they are so worn out, we will not ask them to make 
camp tonight, if we may sleep by your fire? 

CoMCOMLY \ claps his hands; the squaws run to do his bidding]. 
Bring beds for the strangers; they remain by our camp fire tonight. 

Wm. Clark [the squaws bring out mats of rushes, giving one 
to each man^. Tomorrow we will spend drying our luggage. Chief, 
and, if we are fortunate enough to have saved some of it, we will 
give you a present from the Great Father, our president. 

CoMCOMLY. A file and a fishhook, me want [wrapping his 
blanket about him and motioning his warriors to retire, withdraws], 

Wm. Clark. A good night's rest to all of vou. 

29 



Pat. Gass. And the best of one to you, Captain. 

Capt. Lewis [the men stretch themselves out on the mats 
around the fire without any further ceremony. Seeing Sacajawea to 
the side, alone]. Are you not weary, princess? 

Sacajawea. No, Captain. I 

Capt. Lewis. You need not keep guard, Sacajawea. You are 
tired; you must sleep. I shall be the sentinel tonight while my 
brothers rest. 

Sacajawea. No, no! I am not tired — I am not sleepy. 

Capt. Lewis. You have been a little sad the last few days. 
A night's rest will help you. 

Sacajawea [with a far-away look in her eyes]. A night's 
rest will not help — not many, many nights. 

Capt. Lewis. Why, Sacajawea, what is the matter? 

Sacajawea. Soon you find the Big Water, then you go away. 
You will need Sacajawea no more. 

Capt. Lewis. But you return with us. 

Sacajawea. Where? 

Capt. Lewis. To St. Louis, to Washington, to see the Great 
Father. 

Sacajawea. No, no, that is no place for an Indian squaw. 
There is a difference between the white and the red man. I can 
never be happy in your life, no more than your squaws can be 
happy in mine. 

Capt. Lewis. The services that you have rendered the coun- 
try are not — must not be forgotten. 

Sacajawea. My services will soon be over — my life goes ba'^k 
to lodge and the camp fire where I spent my youth. 

Capt. Lewis. No, little Sacajawea, when vou have seen the 
big cities, the fine houses, and the beautiful ladies you will never 
want to go back to the lodge and the camp fire. 

Sacajawea. What would I do there? Look like a red fox 
watching a white fox steal his prey. He so beauliful, the red fox 
forget his own hunger. Better you forget the little pilot. She is 
happy; she gave very little for so much kindness. 

Capt. Lewis. We can never repay vou, child. 

Sacajawea. I am no child now — I have big papoose. 

Capt. Lewis. You are little more than a child, and yet what 
services you have rendered American civilization. You were the 
key that unlocked the language of all the tribes on the journey. 
Through you we made peace at once, for no war p-rty ever car- 
ries a squaw and papoose with them. In times of sickness yon 
were nurse, in times of home-sickness you brought many a ray of 
sunshine into the hearts of the men, in times of hunger you found 
many a meal from the earth, the value of plants that we knew not. 
You say you gave little [pausing], why, you gave everything! 

Sacajawea [buries her head in her liands for a moment. More 
cheerfully]. I am glad if I give just a little; it is so little when 
you think of how you bring peace to the Indian tribe?, that have 

30 



long been weakened from war, and then you find a path for people 
to come after you to find homes, to make cities, and to cultivate 
the good earth that the Indian has let lie in waste for so many 
centuries. 

Capt. Lewis. But you, too, have helped in all this that you 
say Capt. Clark and I have done, so you must go back to Wash- 
ington and receive the honors with us. 

Sacajawea. No, Captain, I will not go back, but when my 
little Toussant is a man, I shall send him to you so you can tell 
him something of his mother. 

Capt. Lewis. He will never hear a more wonderful story 
around the camp fire of the chiefs than I shall tell him of his 
mother, Sacajawea. 

Sacajawea. What shall you call me? Every Indian is proud 
of the name he earns, a name for every brave deed. 

Capt. Lewis. It would be hard to find anything that would 
better fit the one true American princess, but to me it shall always 
be the sweetest of all names, Sacajawea. 

Sacajawea. Then to my boy I shall be Sacajawea. 

Capt. Lewis. In the heart of every American man and woman 
your name should be engraved. 

Sacajawea. Oh, no, no! Big chiefs live always in the hearts 
of men, but little squaws just die and are forgotten. 

Capt. Lewis. You shall never die, Sacajawea. 

Sacajawea. Live to be ugly, ugly old squaw, ai? See [point- 
ing to the ivest] the fog rises. 

Capt. Lewis. 'Tis but the break of day. 

Sacajawea [runs over to see more clearly], ^'hat do I see? 
A silver mist out across the horizon. 

Capt. Lewis. Lie down and get some rest, my child, for we 
may have a long march before us today, if march we do. 

Sacajawea. No, no; we go no more! \Runs over to Char- 
BONEAU] awake, my husband, awake tired men. for the day dawns 
with good tidings. 

Capt. Lewis [joins Sacajawea 05 she gains the point of van- 
tage again]. The sea, the sea! 

Men [all rise and run to look toivard the ivest] . The sea, 
the sea! 

Capt. Lewis [clasping Clark's hand]. It has not all been in 
vain, William; it has not all been in vain. 

Sacajawea [after a pause]. The sea! The sea has met the 
sea at last. 

curtain 
THE END 



31 



LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 

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